- Temasek
Temasek ('Sea Town' in Javanese, spelt "Tumasik"; zh-s|s=淡马锡) was the name of an early city on the site of modern
Singapore . From the14th century , the island is also known as Singapura, which is derived fromSanskrit and means "Lion City". Legend has it that the name was given bySang Nila Utama when he visited the island in1299 and saw an unknown creature which he probably mistook as a lion [http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/singapore/singapore.html#chapter1] .While the early history of Singapore is obscured by myth and legend, some conclusions can be drawn from archaeological evidence and from written references by travelers. Archaeology points to an urbanised settlement on the site by the
fourteenth century . Allusions by travelers give some evidence that there may have been a city or town present as early as the second century. At its height, the city boasted a large earthencity wall andmoat ; many of the buildings were built with stone and brick foundations. Remains of old pottery, coins, jewellery and other artifacts have been found, with many of these artifacts believed to be imported from various parts ofChina ,India ,Sri Lanka andIndonesia . These are sometimes seen as evidence of the city's status as a regional trade centre. An aquatic route which is part of the larger Silk route, passes through Temasek.From the seventh to the thirteenth centuries, the island of Singapore was controlled by the
Srivijaya empire based inSumatra . By the emergence of Temasek as a fortified city and trading centre14th century , the Srivijaya empire was in a long period of decline. The city then changed hands several times before coming under the influence of theSultanate of Malacca in the fifteenth century. After the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese in1511 , the island came under the control of the MalaySultanate of Johor .Singapore's national honours
The Republic's two most important national honours are titled
Bintang Temasek ("The Star of Temasek" for acts of exceptional courage and skill or exhibited conspicuous devotion to duty in circumstances of extreme danger) and theDarjah Utama Temasek ("Order of Temasek", for outstanding and exceptional contributions to the country).Other institutions that bear the name:
*Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory , atNational University of Singapore
*Temasek Laboratories , atNanyang Technological University
*Temasek Polytechnic
*Temasek Junior College
*Temasek Secondary School
*Temasek Tower External links
* [http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/singapore/singapore.html#chapter1 A History of the Lion City] - Chapter from an online textbook.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.